West Bengal: In West Bengal, normal life has been paralyzed due to “Ghar Bhitra Janata” (People Inside Homes) movement called by Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the hills of Darjeeling district today. GJMM has organized this agitation to press their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland on the line of Telangana. Roads and streets are completely deserted in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong tehsils. Schools, shops and business establishments remained closed.

Vehicular traffic is off the road. Attendance in government offices has also been affected. The arterial National Highway 31A, linking Sikkim and Siliguri via Kalimpong sub-division of Darjeeling district is witnessing very thin vehicular movement amid tight security due to this bandh. The situation is peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported. 14 companies of Central Reserve Police Force have been deployed in various parts of the hills to deal with the prevailing situation.

Newspapers published from Siliguri, the mainland of Darjeeling hills, were not circulated and distributed across the region during this agitation today. Essential services like milk and water are also closed today.